NAME AnyEvent::ReadLine::Gnu - event-based interface to Term::ReadLine::Gnu SYNOPSIS use AnyEvent::ReadLine::Gnu; # works always, prints message to stdout AnyEvent::ReadLine::Gnu->print ("message\n"); # now initialise readline my $rl = new AnyEvent::ReadLine::Gnu prompt => "hi> ", on_line => sub { # called for each line entered by the user AnyEvent::ReadLine::Gnu->print ("you entered: $_[0]\n"); }; # asynchronously print something my $t = AE::timer 1, 1, sub { $rl->hide; print "async message 1\n"; # mind the \n $rl->show; # the same, but shorter: $rl->print ("async message 2\n"); }; # do other eventy stuff... AE::cv->recv; DESCRIPTION The Term::ReadLine module family is bizarre (and you are encouraged not to look at its sources unless you want to go blind). It does support event-based operations, somehow, but it's hard to figure out. It also has some utility functions for printing messages asynchronously, something that, again, isn't obvious how to do. This module has figured it all out for you, once and for all. $rl = new AnyEvent::ReadLine::Gnu key => value... Creates a new AnyEvent::ReadLine object. Actually, it only configures readline and provides a convenient way to call the show and hide methods, as well as readline methods - this is a singleton. The returned object is the standard Term::ReadLine::Gnu object, all methods that are documented (or working) for that module should work on this object. Once initialised, this module will also restore the terminal settings on a normal program exit. The following key-value pairs are supported: on_line => $cb->($string) The only mandatory parameter - passes the callback that will receive lines that are completed by the user. The string will be in locale-encoding (a multibyte character string). For example, in an utf-8 using locale it will be utf-8. There is no portable way known to the author to convert this into e.g. a unicode string. prompt => $string The prompt string to use, defaults to ">". name => $string The readline application name, defaults to $0. in => $glob The input filehandle (should be a glob): defaults to *STDIN. out => $glob The output filehandle (should be a glob): defaults to *STDOUT. $rl->hide AnyEvent::ReadLine::Gnu->hide These methods *hide* the readline prompt and text. Basically, it removes the readline feedback from your terminal. It is safe to call even when AnyEvent::ReadLine::Gnu has not yet been initialised. This is immensely useful in an event-based program when you want to output some stuff to the terminal without disturbing the prompt - just "hide" readline, output your thing, then "show" it again. Since user input will not be processed while readline is hidden, you should call "show" as soon as possible. $rl->show AnyEvent::ReadLine::Gnu->show Undos any hiding. Every call to "hide" has to be followed to a call to "show". The last call will redisplay the readline prompt, current input line and cursor position. Keys entered while the prompt was hidden will be processed again. $rl->print ($string, ...) AnyEvent::ReadLine::Gnu->print ($string, ...) Prints the given strings to the terminal, by first hiding the readline, printing the message, and showing it again. This function can be called even when readline has never been initialised. The last string should end with a newline. AUTHOR, CONTACT, SUPPORT Marc Lehmann http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/AnyEvent-Readline-Gnu.html